Ngāti Tamaoho kaupapa mātauranga

Ngāti Tamaoho has been showcased in the first edition of Ka Hikitia in Action(external link) for the great work it is doing at Papakura’s Kereru Park Campus, however the work of this iwi does not stop there. With hapū commitment to the kaupapa that every mokopuna will experience educational success, Ngāti Tamaoho will leave no stone unturned.

They are calling for support from the Ministry of Education and other organisations willing to work with them to develop sustainable education pathways.

Key to Ngāti Tamaoho’s dreams for education becoming reality is more whānau involvement in education and whānau talking about education in their homes. Whānau are being encouraged and supported to lead, demand and deliver education in their area.

This is an ambitious plan, but Ngāti Tamaoho are relentless in their efforts to lay the groundwork to ensure this vision for education becomes reality. Ngāti Tamaoho are concentrating efforts in the South Auckland area.

They are focused on building relationships with whānau throughout the rohe and working with early childhood providers, including kōhanga reo, schools, marae, sports clubs and a range of social services.

The focus of these relationships is to change attitudes about education and to discuss how Ngāti Tamaoho tamariki can access the best education.

One way the Ministry has helped Ngāti Tamaoho to change hearts and minds has been through the Whānau Education Action Plans (WEAPs). Through this process a number of whānau have shared enlightening and humbling stories of their experiences in education and with government organisations.

The WEAPs’ development process highlights the role that whānau, iwi leadership and governance can take to support quality education provision for all of Ngāti Tamaoho.

Another significant part of the education focus for Ngāti Tamaoho is to strengthen Māori-medium education pathways.

To do this, whānau must have access to high-quality Māori language education options. It is also essential that mokopuna are encouraged to move from kōhanga reo to kura, and to stay in Māori-medium education.

To achieve this, Ngāti Tamaoho are working alongside their local kōhanga reo and kura. This effort is paying off, and together they have set and exceeded targets to increase the number of tamariki learning through te reo Māori.

Ngāti Tamaoho is developing resources that reflect their iwi stories. Iwi and hapū can use these resources on marae, in kāinga and in schools.

Ngāti Tamaoho is also working to support school leadership and governance, and influencing the selection and appointment of teachers and principals in their rohe.

Ngāti Tamaoho knows how they can make a difference for their mokopuna. They understand that the quality provision of education will improve education pathways. They have identified that by actively contributing to the curriculum content and who is teaching their tamariki they will be able to have even more success.